PEABODY ― The Swampscott field hockey team came to play on Monday evening as it defeated Northeastern Conference foe Peabody by a score of 4-0 on the Tanners’ home turf at Coley Lee Field.
Peabody goalie Gianna DeGianfalice was tested in the fourth minute of the first quarter, but with the ball bouncing in front of the net she made a kick save to keep the score level. Alex Demakis bailed out DeGianfalice two minutes later with a goal-line clearance to keep the score all square 0-0.
Peabody coach Tawny Palmieri said that the goalie has been great for Peabody so far this season.
“She did great,” Palmieri said of DeGianfalice. “In our last game, she had 30 shots on her. This game obviously was a lot less, which is great, but she gives it her all and she saves a ton of shots for us.”
Swampscott put the ball in the net on two occasions in the last five minutes of the first quarter, but both goals were waved off due to violations.
The Big Blue eventually found the back of the net six minutes into the second quarter, with Olivia Baran securing the first goal of the game. A few minutes later, Brooke Waters scored on a long-distance shot to give Swampscott a two-goal lead.
After the game, Swampscott coach Courtney Russo said that her girls responded well after getting two goals taken away, adding that they didn’t show any hesitation moving forward.
“I was pleased to have some offensive action, which was good,” said Russo. “They continued to push forward and they continued to persist and persevere out there, so I was pleased with the way they kind of controlled the play today.”
Peabody got three quality scoring chances off of corners late in the second quarter, but on each occasion the Tanners failed to find the back of the net and Swampscott took a 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
The Tanners got another corner two minutes into the third quarter, but once again they failed to capitalize.
Swampscott extended its lead with just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter. Meghan O’Brien’s long-range shot seemed to have eyes and snuck its way past Peabody’s goalie and into the net to give the Big Blue a 3-0 lead early in the quarter. A minute later, Swampscott added to its tally after Sydney Marshall scored on a scramble in front of the net.
For the remaining eight minutes, Peabody withstood a barrage as Swampscott retained possession for the majority of the half. The Tanners struggled to get past midfield but were able to keep the deficit to four goals.
The first five minutes of the fourth quarter were an improvement for Peabody offensively, but the Tanners were still unable to register a goal. Senior Gina Terrezzano had the best opportunity for Peabody with just a little over eight minutes left in the game, but Swampscott’s defenders were able to ensure that the shot didn’t get past the goal line and that the Big Blue would walk away with the victory.
Swampscott’s win is their first of the season (1-1) and they will now prepare for a Friday night showdown against North Andover.
Peabody is now 0-2 this fall and is preparing for a Wednesday night matchup against Danvers.
